THE NEW SYNAGOGUE.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2126, 16 December 1880, Page 3

THE NEW SYNAGOGUE.

The new synagogue about to be built in Gloucester street is to supersede the old one, •which has been found insufficient for the accommodation of the Jewish residents in Canterbury, they having acquired another piece of land adjoining, extending to and having a frontage on Cambridge terrace of 40ft. The present building is now shifted on to the last acquired land, so as to serve for worship while the new one is being built, and afterwards to be converted into a school. The whole of the old site therefore will be available for the new building, which will be of a substantial and ornamental character. The contract has been let to Mr W. Prudhoe, and building operations will be commenced immediately. Mr T. S. Lambert is the architect. The design is unique, and the proportions and disposition of the materials in the front elevation has been carefully studied, the materials being blue and white and yellow stone. The exterior walls will be of brick. The size inside is 60ft. by 36ft.; height of walls 24ft. above door, and 28ft. 6in. into ceiling. The plinth is of Hoon Hay stone, 2ft. 6in. in height; the front is divided into bays by four massive pilasters, projecting 6in., the stones of which are alternately blue and white, the lower ones with paned faces, strings, and cornices. On each side are windows lighting the cloak rooms. The main entrance, approached by two steps, is closed by large central door with ornamental cusped fanlights to light the vestibule, as also narrow windows on each side. The voussoirs of the window heads are alternate colors and varied forms. Above each window are richly carved paleras, and all the work between is filled in with randour, coursed, squared rubble. At gallery line a bold cornice returned on the side pairs of pilasters, and a label between, on which rests the rose window, which is 10ft. diameter, with mouldings and ball flowers at points. The tracery is of an unusual form, being composed of eighteen equilateral triangles, with cusps; the centre is subdivided, as also the triangles, the lights being of oast iron. The piers at this height are each divided into two pilasters, with richly carved caps, In the side bays are windows lighting the staircase and ladies’ cloak room, and the caps of pilasters continued from a label moulding over the rose window, from which spring the - voussoirs, which are alternately of blue and white stone, with ornamental edges and raised keystone. The piers at this height are glyphed and chamfered, from which springs the same projection continued up the gables, supported on corbels. At the second pilaster this rises Ift., causing a break, and this is continued to the apex, supported throughout on corbels. Under this and above rose window is an ornamental tablet for a Hebrew inscription 5 the gables terminate in a moulded capping, while on the lowest points and on the apex are large bold acroterial ornaments. The roof will be covered with slates. The side windows' are mullioned with circular heads, filled in with lead quarries, having two tints of pale green glass and the borders of seven colors, prismatically arranged, and the rose window will be glazed with stained glass arranged in various designs. The galleries and roof are carried on highly ornamented cast iron columns. The timbers of the roof are partially seen, being hammer-beam principals resting on carved corbels. The ceiling ‘is coved and divided into panels by moulded riba and cornices, and in the centre panels there are richly foliated oast iron pateras for ventilation, communicating with tranks above. This important item seems to have received due consideration, as the windows are made to open for the admission of fresh air, and the trunks above ceiling are intended to allow the natural law of gravitation to act, whereby the vitiated and buoyant air is allowed to escape, and so create circulation by displacement. Like all synagogues (in which with the customs of the ancient race the sexes pray apart from one another) the galleries are for the female congregants, the whole of the ground floor being intended for the men. The gallery is of the U form, being semicircular at the end. The front will be of cast iron, in richly foliated pattern, curved in section, with moulded rail and bookboards. The main entrance is by a central door, 7ft. wide, in two leafs, with bold panels of various forms and richly moulded. The vestibule, which is 16ft. by 10ft., is paved with black and white marble, in squares laid diagonally, with inlaid border, and bold comice and centre flower in ceiling. On the left hand side is the ladies’ room, with side entrance down from the_ exterior, and from this room access is gained , to the galleries by on easy rise and roomy

Stair. The landing is surrounded by a panelled and pierced curved screen. A passage, with central entrance on to the galleries, leads to the ladies cloak room, formed by a screen corresponding to the one on landing. Returning again to the vestibule on the right is the gentlemen g cloak room, also with side entrjmce door, lighted from the front and fitted with the usual hooks, &e., and a lavatory complete. The doors in the vestibule are massive and moulded ; those loading into the synagogue are hung on swing hinges and elaborate furniture. At the south end, elevated above the floor level by three steps, the JEehol, or sanctuary, a domed recess, within which will be the Aaraon-haWkoiesii, or sacred receptacle for the scrolls of the Pentateuch. The steps and floor will be paved with small squares of black and white marble in diamond pattern, and the dome will bo lighted from the top through a ceiling light of stained glass. The flanks will have columns with rich caps, and the arohivolt and mouldings are of a chaste and ornate pattern in graceful proportions. In the centre of the building, near the sanctuary, is the Almemar, a raised platform, whence the minister and the office bearers conduct the service. The seats on the ground floor and in the galleries are placed longitudinally, the floors being raised tier above tier. The ark, Almemar, seating and fittings, will be in another contract, and will be of a highly ornamental workmanship and harmonising with the building.